Description: In his On the Mark segment, Evan Newmark says Friday’s Groupon IPO should be waded through with caution by investors, because it is another example of Wall Street shenanigans. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 11/04/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/groupon-investor-beware/5DE4D58B-F543-470C-880B-4F2183A8AE19 Questions for discussion: Summarize the reasons presented why investors should stay away from this stock. Do… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Part 1 Business in a Global Environment
From failure to Facebook
Description:   Facebook’s Carolyn Everson explains how she learned from the failure of her startup Pets.com. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 11/04/2011 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/11/03/ts_40_u_everson_facebook.fortune/ Questions for discussion: What did you learn about business success and failure by watching this clip? Do you think Carolyn Emerson is a better corporate executive at Facebook due her earlier… Read more »
Apple’s Supply-Chain Secret? Hoard Lasers
Description: The iPhone maker spends lavishly on all stages of the manufacturing process, giving it a huge operations advantage Source: Businessweek.com Date: 11/03/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/apples-supplychain-secret-hoard-lasers-11032011.html Questions for discussion: Why does Apple have a competitive advantage in R&D over other firms? How important is the scale of production to Apple’s success in R&D and production?
The TV business model is doomed
Description: Commentary: How much will you pay to regain personal time? Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 11/04/2011 Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-tv-business-model-is-doomed-2011-11-04 Questions for discussion: Do you believe the current business model is doomed? Do you believe there is a sizable segment of the market that would be willing to pay $1 per hour of commercial-free television? Where do you… Read more »
Apple Doles Out $60M Stock Grants to Execs
Description: Apple Inc. (AAPL), seeking to retain its management team in the wake of former Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs’s death last month, gave $60 million restricted-stock grants to most of its senior vice presidents. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 11/04/2011 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-04/apple-doles-out-stock-grants-to-several-of-its-top-executives.html Questions for discussion: Do you believe this is a wise financial planning decision at… Read more »
China’s vanishing factory bosses
Description: No one believed more fervently in China’s economic miracle than the residents of this pretty coastal city, which produces shoes, eyeglasses and cigarette lighters sold around the world. The good times of the past decade made many in Wenzhou rich, and residents repeatedly doubled their bets, pouring their earnings and more into stock markets… Read more »
Spending $310 million … on pet costumes
Description: People spend more on Halloween than any other holiday, aside from Christmas. Spending for kid and pet costumes, candy and decorations is expected to hit almost $7 billion this year. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 10/28/2011 Link:  http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/10/28/n_spooky_spending.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Why do you suppose Halloween has endured as an annual marketing event?… Read more »
What Would An Apple Television Look Like?
Description:   Before he passed away earlier this month, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs told biographer Walter Isaacson that he had finally conceived of a way to build the integrated television set the company has long been rumored to be working on. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 10/25/2011 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/what-would-an-apple-television-look-like/A9CD8D8E-5B33-4549-B721-06FA2D2A6D56 Questions for discussion: Do you think… Read more »
Alaska’s Billion Dollar Mountain
Description: The story of one man who used a little persuasionâ€â€and a lot of luckâ€â€to win the rights to millions of tons of rare earths Source: Businessweek.com Date: 10/27/2011 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/alaskas-billion-dollar-mountain-10272011.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points in this report? What did you learn about the industry from an “on the ground†point of… Read more »
Amazon falls on forecast; Street stays bullish
Description: Investors sold off shares of Amazon.com Wednesday, though Wall Street retained a largely positive view of the stock. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 10/26/2011 Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazon-falls-on-forecast-street-stays-bullish-2011-10-26?siteid=nwtwk Questions for discussion: Why did Amazon stock prices fall? Do you think the sellers made the right investment decision? Do you think Amazon is a good investment at this time?
